Denver Job Seeker in His 60s Files Chapter 7 After 200-Applicant Hunt for $20-an-Hour Work
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Sep 14
Denver Job Seeker in His 60s Files Chapter 7 After 200-Applicant Hunt for $20-an-Hour Work
1 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Sep 14
Summary
Thomas Heep, a Denver operations manager laid off in April 2025, said he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this year after part-time prescription deliveries and early Social Security failed to cover his bills.
His search for full-time work has stretched more than a year, with one recent $20-an-hour interview coming after the employer said it received more than 200 applications.
Heep said online hiring has become a bottleneck, with many employers never responding and some remote roles drawing applications in the 2,000s.
At the same time, he believes age is a major barrier in his 60s, even after trimming his resume, and says employers question whether he can handle physical demands or stay long enough to justify hiring.
The financial squeeze is compounded by Social Security rules: because he claimed benefits before age 67, $1 is withheld for every $2 he earns above $24,480, leaving him, he said, with no real option but to keep working.